Tactical Mission: Evangelism vs. Apologetics

One of my missions in Iraq was to train the Iraqi police force. I knew that things like language and culture would be significant hurdles to overcome. One thing I wasn’t prepared for was working with their weapons. As an Army soldier, I knew my personal weapon inside and out.

COMBAT TOOLS

I carried an M16A2 rifle. In combat zones, my rifle was loaded with a 30 round magazine filled with 5.56mm ammunition. A combination of bullet size and barrel length (20in) gave the M16 a near perfect balance of impact and accuracy.

We would be training Iraqis carrying Ak-47’s. Their weapons were loaded with 7.62mm ammunition. With a fully automatic firing mechanism, and a barrel length nearly 4” shorter than the M16, this weapon is more concerned with quantity than quality.

A Major Difference

One of the major differences between these two weapons is their fail rate. The M16 is far more precise and therefore susceptible to malfunction in desert environments. Just a few specks of sand in the right place renders the weapon inoperable. The AK on the other hand is known for its versatility. Whether it’s underwater, slopped in mud, or covered in the unforgettable dust of a sand storm, the AK-47 fires nearly every time.

CHRISTIAN TOOLS

Just like choosing a weapon in a combat zone has multiple considerations (size, durability, accuracy, etc), choosing a tactic is important for Christians, too. Preachers often employ a tactic called evangelism. Evangelism is simply sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Like the M16, evangelism works best in friendly environments. Whether you are in church, Bible study, or sharing your faith with someone asking to hear more about Jesus, evangelism is precise, powerful and effective.

Evangelism

Evangelism can utilize all 66 books of the Bible, which includes 31,102 verses written by 40 different authors. The Bible has been translated into over 1,200 languages. All authors have their own unique perspective and style. But the Bible’s consistent message is ensured through the work of God himself. For all of Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16).

Jesus used this tactic when dealing with the woman at the well. John 4:13-14, “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” Evangelism aims directly inward and concerns matters of the heart.

Just like sand in an M16, however, a skeptic’s cognitive bias will render an evangelical approach ineffective.

Apologetics

In areas where Christianity is not well received, an apologetic approach is a better tactic. Apologetics takes place on the battle ground of the mind. It is a mental approach and comes equipped with reasoning, rationale, philosophy, and science. Apologetics is a suppression tactic.

“Good philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, because bad philosophy needs to be answered.” -C.S. Lewis

Paul used apologetics when reasoning with the Greeks. “So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” (Acts 17:16-17). You can see Paul using apologetics in somewhat of an automatic manner. You can hear that his reasoning would go out to anyone who would listen.

Which tactic do you use? How do you determine whether to choose an evangelistic or apologetic approach? Leave your comments below and be sure to check out our A Clear Lens podcast for great tips on how to engage the culture.

Roger Browning is a husband, father of four, Army veteran and has been part of the Clear Lens team since 2016. Roger brings wit, experience and an audacious style to the apologetics genre. Currently, Roger is enrolled in the C. S. Lewis Institute Fellows program and enjoys encouraging others to take their faith seriously.